Wind propelled outboard motor



B. B. DoRR 2,261,434'

Nov. 4, 1941.

WIND PROPELLED OUTBOARD MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June i3, 1940 ATTO R N EYS Nov. 4, 1941. B. B. DORR WIND PROPELLED OU''BOARD MOTOR Filed June s, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 7; INVEMOR ama/ra Bv @my ATTQRN EYS Patented Nov. 4, 1941 OFFICE WIND PROPELLED OU'TBOARD MOTOR Benjamin B. Dor, West Toledo, ohio- Appliea'tionJune 3, 1940, serial No. 333,603

(orina-g3) 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a wind-propelled outboard motor and has for an object to provide a device of this character in which the shaft for the water propeller is detachably clutched to the wind-driven main shaft and the main shaft housing and the propeller shaft housing are hingeably connected together at the clutch of the shafts so that the propeller and rudder may rock upwardly upon hitting an object in the water and prevent breakage and fouling of the water propeller and rudder.

A further object .is to provide a device of this character in which a single spring performs the dual function of returning the water propeller and rudder to operative position each time these parts are displaced upwardly and at the same time tends to keep the boat on a straight course without the operator holding onto the tiller handle.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which may be easily attached to and removed from a boat for use in connection with outboard motors without alterations to the boat.

A further object is to provide apparatus of this character which will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be' the invention and shown applied to the stern L portion of a boat.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section View, with parts in elevation, of the outboard motor.

Figure 3 is a detail side elevation showing the extension I2 revolvably securedfto the housing by a sectional flanged coupling I3, best shown in YFigure '7, which receives flanges formed on the extension and on the housing and between which Wahine main shaft.-

water propeller and rudder rocked upwardly to released position.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2 showing the rope brake and tiller handle.

Figure 5 is a detail cross sectional view taken e `A wind vane is provided with superposed fears 2| through which, and superposed ears 22 on` the hollow head I5, a bolt 23 is passed. A vhelical spring 24 is sleeved on the bolt above the upper ear ZI of the vaneto hold projections 25 y on the ears 2l, seated selectively in sockets 26 in the hollow head ears so that the vane may be turned into operative or released position to respectively hold the wind wheel into oroutof the wind l A propeller shaft housing 2l is disposed below and in alinement with the main shaft housing I I'. The upper end of the propeller shaft housing is provided .with` the lower half section 28 of a -brake housing 29, the upper half section of the brake housing being carried by the main shaft housing II and secured to the lower half section by screw bolts 3 I, or other connectors.

Ahollow tiller handle 32 is secured to the brake housing 29 and when the tiller handle is manually swung to the right or Ato the left the shaft housing 2l will be correspondingly turned to swing a rudder 33 which is fixed to the lower end ofthe shaft housing 2l by set screws 34, \.Or other connectors.

A bearing sleeve 35 is loosely mounted on the housing 2lbelow the brake housing 29 and is adjustably securedv vertically on the housing 2'1 by split ring collars 35 disposed above and below the sleeve, which latter is also a split ring collar.

A securing arm` 3l projects forwardly from the sleeve 35 and is telescopically received in a hollow arm 38 having an inverted U-shaped clamp 39 on .the end adapted to be placed astride the stern portion 40 of a boat 4l and be secured thereto by set screws 42. Set screws 43 adjustably secure the arm 37 in the hollow arm 38. The sleeve 35 is provided near the bottom with ears 44, as best shown in Figure 6. Securing rods 45 are bolted to the ears as shown at 46 and are telescopically received in hollow arms 4l which terminate in balls 48 that are received in sockets 49 carried by angular brackets 50 which are placed astride the rear outer corners of the stern 40 of the boat and are secured thereto by cables 5I which are trained forwardly along the sides -of the bolts and are secured to rings 52 or other The propeller shaft housing 21 is formed in two sections, an upper section 53 and a lower section 54 connected together by a break joint including hinge ears 55 and 56 carried by the sections and a hinge pin 51 passed through the ears. The ears are formed on the rear sides of the sections and permit the lower section of the housing to tilt upwardly when the rudder 33 is struck by an article in the water and permit the rudder to ride safely over the obstruction without damage. For holding the sections normally alined a nipple 58 is formed on the upper section 53 and enters the upper end of the lower section 54 which latter is provided with a stop wall 59 against which the nipple abuts.

A propeller shaft G is journaled in the stop wall 59 and in a lower stop wall 6I disposed in the lower section 54 of the propeller shaft housing. The lower end of the propeller shaft is equipped with a bevel gear 62 which meshes with a bevel gear E3 which is secured to the inner end of a stub shaft G4 which is mounted in a tubular bearing 65 and to which is secured a propeller 66. At the break joint between the upper and lower sections of the propeller shaft housing 21 the main shaft iD is clutched to the propeller shaft GD through the medium of upper and lower clutch members 61 and 68 which are carried respectively by the lower end of the main shaft l and the upper end of the propeller shaft 68. When the joint breaks to permit the rudder and propeller to rock upwardly and rearwardly the clutch members will be rie-clutched and when the parts return to normal operative position the clutch members will be clutched to connect the main shaft to the propeller shaft to drive the latter.

A helical spring G9 is secured at the lower end to an eye rod 10 which extends forwardly from the lower section 54 of the propeller shaft housing 21. The upper end of the spring is secured in an eye 1l carried by the tubuluar arm 38 of the securing arm 31. The spring passes between the hollow arms 41 and normally holds the rudder 33 in position to guide the boat on a straight course without attention from the operator. The spring also returns the lower section 54 of the propeller shaft housing 21 to operative vertical position each time it is displaced upwardly by the rudder 33 striking an object in the water.

As best shown in Figure l, a transverse brace rod 12 is secured at one end to the end of one of the downwardly inclined telescopically assembled securing rods 41 and is telescopically received in the hollow end 13 of a brace rod 14 'which is secured to the other downwardly extend ing securing rod 41. A set screw 15 adjustably secures the brace rods 12 and 14 together.

The brake comprises a pulley 16 which is fixed to the main shaft i0 inside of the brake housing 29. A rope 11 'is trained around the pulley and is directed through the hollow tiller arm 32, as best shown in Figure 4, the ends of the rope being connected together at the free end of the ti-ller arm by a ring 18. The ring may be manually pulled outwardly to tighten the rope on the pulley 16 and slow down and eventually stop rotation of the main shaft lil whenever this becomes necessary.

Since the operation of the parts has been described as the description of the parts progressed, it is thought the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed ist 1. In a wind propelled outboard motor, propeller and steering mechanism, a wind wheel connected with the propeller mechanism, a hinged joint between the steering mechanism and the propeller adapted to disconnect the propeller from the wind wheel in the event of the propeller striking an obstruction, and a spring connected to the steering mechanism for normally holding the propeller connected to the wind wheel.

2. In an outboard motor, upper and lower alined tubular housings, means for securing the upper housing to a boat, a main driving shaft in the upper housing, a driven propeller shaft in the `lower housing, a propeller connected to the propeller shaft and carried by the lower housing, a hinge joint connecting the housings at their opposed ends, clutch means detachably connecting the shafts at said joint, and yielding means holding the lower housing alined with the upper housing and permitting the lower housing and propeller shaft to rock upwardly at said joint -upon contact of the propeller with an object in the water.

3. In an outboard motor upper and lower alined tubular housings, means for securing the upper housing to a boat, a hollow tiller handle connected to the upper housing for turning the housing axially, a driven propeller shaft in the lower shaft, a propeller connected to the propeller shaft and carried by the lower housing, a rudder carried by the lower housing a hinged joint connecting the housings at their opposed ends, `clutch members detachably connecting the shafts at said joint, and yielding means holding the lower housing alined with the upper housing and permitting the rudder, lower housing and propeller shaft to rock upwardly at said joint upon contact of the propeller or rudder with an object in the water.

4. In a wind propelled outboard motor, comprising an upper and lower alined tubular housing pivoted, together, means for securing the upper housing to a boat, a main drive shaft in the upper housing, wind operated means for driving the main shaft, a propeller shaft in the lower housing, clutch members carried by the ends of the main shaft and propeller shaft for connecting the same together, a spring connected to the lower tubular housing and to the upper housing, a drum carried by the main driving shaft, and a brake band passing around the brake drum for retarding the movement of the main driving shaft.

5. In a wind propelled outboard motor, comprising upper and lower tubular housings hinged together, an adjustable means for securing the upper housing to a boat, a main drive shaft in the upper housing, wind propelled means for driving the main shaft, a propeller shaft in the lower housing, a propeller carried by the lower housing and driven by a gearing from the propeller shaft, clutch means carried by the main shaft and the propeller shaft connecting the shafts together when the housings are in alined position, a coil spring connected to the lower housing and having its opposite end connected to the housing securing means, a drum carried by the main driving shaft, and a cable passing around said drum and having its ends secured to a hand operated means, whereby the cable may be tightened around the drum for retarding the movement of the main drive shaft.

BENJAMIN B. DORR. 

